Any tips for butt welding please

[pdm]

Hi

Any tips on butt welding two chamfered bits of 8mm plate ?

I'm practising with two plates, chamfered at the edges to 45 degrees and about 2mm apart to get penetration.

I'm using quite a low setting and low wire speed. I'm making small circles across both plates and the gap trying to keep some weld pool in front so I don't blow through.

My problem I think is speed but I'm looking for some tips please.

It seems there is a very very small window between going too fast for good penetration and going too slow so it just blows through the edge of the chamfer. Also it seems that if I hold torch at 10mm I am more likely to blow through but any further and I am not getting penetration.

Any tips would be much appreciated.

thanks
Paul

 

[backpurge]

Reduce the bevell to around 30 degrees, ensure you have a root face of around 2mm max. Root gap is very much a personal preference but I would not want one less than 2mm
Ideally you should be able to get your root run in without weaving, just blast straight up the middle of the gap keeping the wire on the leading edge of the weld pool and control the penetration bead by altering your travel speed
Once youve got the root in, wind up the power and fill the joint up in spray transfer using stringer beads deposited at fairly high travel speeds without weaving

 

[pdm]

Great I'll give that a try - thanks